Holly Doyle’s Blog: Town of Troy may end Aidan O’Brien’s wait for Breeders’ Cup Classic glory | Racing news

This is one of the biggest weeks in our Ambassador’s amazing career as she races with Bradsell in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar and then flies to Australia to race the Sea King in the Melbourne Cup, all live on television on Sky Sports Racing.

Bradsell’s gate speed can bridge a wide gap

There is no point in denying that the draw was unkind to Bradsell V Prevagen Breeders’ Cup, grass sprint (7.41pm) at Del Mar on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

Being marked 12 out of 12 isn’t ideal for a horse who likes to be at the top of his races, but all the early speed seems to be around us, with fellow British raider Big Eves next door at 11 and US big hope Cogburn also drawing. a high of nine so hopefully we can cope and give it our best shot.

Bradsell, who should enjoy going fast, is blessed with the kind of speed that will hopefully get us over that wide starting position, and although he’s never raced around corners, we have no concerns about him handling the turns.

Archie Watson’s Noonthorpe and Flying Five winner arrived in California with his stablemate and juvenile turf contender Esterius earlier this week and was well settled by the time I sat him on the track in midweek.

He took this trip very well. I’ve worked him on the ground, jumped out of the gate and he’s really doing well here, but his last race before taking up stallion duties at the National Stud will be his biggest test to date.

Happy to meet Tom on the world stage

My husband Tom (Marquand) and I are thrilled to be competing in such a valuable race on the world stage, and as fate would have it, we were both faced with the same predicament as Mick Appleby. Big Eves also likes to do things.

It would certainly be a stellar achievement for myself, Archie and the entire team at Saxon Gate Stable at Lambourn if the Victorious Racing superstar could end his career with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on his resume.

He has given me so many great days, winning the Coventry twice, the Royal Stand three times and Group 1 twice this season after returning from a career-threatening injury. He last ran his most daring race on unusually soft ground at the Prix de l’Abbaye in France and deserves the glory.

Chance to Kathmandu in Goldikov

I’m also glad I got a ride on Brian Meehan’s filly. Kathmandu V Goldikova Stakes (6.15) on grass over 1m high We were placed in stall nine which again is wider than we would like for a filly who likes to race but has the ability to do well.

The daughter of Showcasing narrowly missed out on winning the French Guineas and was beaten by just over three lengths in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in the summer before running well long distance in a good resumption of the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

I rode her on Thursday morning and she felt in great shape. She’s a smart filly who looks like a million bucks and Brian couldn’t be happier with her. Among the fillies in contention is Owen Burrows’s British rival Rakija, who won the race at Goodwood and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Fingers crossed for Tom at the mile.

I’ll shout to my husband Tom home in FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (23.45) about the wonderful filly Donnachie O’Brien Porta Fortuna.

Tom has formed a productive partnership with her this year, winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 1 Matron Stakes in Ireland – performances which, along with her success in the Falmouth Stakes, confirm that she is the best runner of her sex in Europe.

She’s a smart filly who has Breeders’ Cup experience after finishing second on the Santa Anita Juvenile Fillies Turf last year, so she should feel right at home in the Del Mar area.

Stall Seven is a fair draw, not far from Charlie Appleby’s favorite standout at Godolphin, who impressed in the Sussex Stakes and deserves respect on a surface that should suit him.

Troy will put an end to Aidan’s tedious wait

I believe in great things City of Troy could end Aidan O’Brien’s long and frustrating search for a winner in Breeders’ Cup Longines Classic (21.41).

He has become a superstar this year, winning the Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International, and he has the class and quality to go out in a blaze of glory.

He is bred by Justify and is bred to perform well on dirt, although his dam Galileo has a strong turf pedigree. The third stand looks like a good starting point and I expect him to bring it back to Ireland.

It is clear that violence is a serious danger. He won the Breeders Cup Juvenile last year and has won at the highest level on dirt this season, while Forever Young had some bad luck in the Kentucky Derby but got off to a poor start, which could have been a problem from the inside gate.

Glad to be called up for the Melbourne Cup

I’m so glad I got the call from British Raider. Sea King at the Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday in Australia, live on Sky Sports Racing at 4am. I had been looking for the opportunity to compete in the great race for several weeks but turned down the opportunity when his trainer Harry Eustace contacted me.

Sea King has only been in Harry’s Newmarket yard for a few weeks but cemented his place in the famous race with victory in the Bendigo Cup this week, giving his trainer his first success at group level.

Australian rider Declan Bates, who was on board, is unable to compete in the lightweight division, so I was happy to step in when the invitation came and hope I can repeat the previous success I achieved for his owners on True Self in the Neom Cup. in Saudi Arabia in 2021.

Ebor Sea King’s form looks strong as he finished ahead of Onesmoothoperator, who secured his place in the Flemington spectacle by winning the Geelong Cup last week for Brian Ellison.

This will be my second time in the race after I had a great run this long in Future Stories for Harry’s brother David Eustace last year. This has really whetted my appetite and I am so grateful to Harry and his owners for giving me the opportunity to return so soon with a live chance.

After Melbourne, I’m heading to Japan for the third year in a row to work on a short-term contract until December 22, capping off an exciting international year.

Holly Doyle spoke to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.